June 18, 2018

By: Mike Gridley, Show Chair

Back in the day, building boats of all types was big business in Muskoka. Boat companies of all sizes sprang up across the region. Port Carling was home to Dukes, Matheson, Johnstons and the Disappearing Propeller Boats and SeaBird. Ditchburn and Greavette had large operations in Gravenhurst while Minett, later Minett-Shields set up shop in Bracebridge. And these are just the well known companies, but all told some fourteen or more companies were active in the heyday of wood.

Skip forward to 2018 and there are still that many shops operating in Muskoka with more across Ontario. Hence our theme this Summer’s 38th Annual Vintage Boat Show is “Keeping the Passion Alive, a Salute to the Heritage Boat Shops.” As always Saturday, July 7th will be a fantastic show in Gravenhurst. Being a judged show, the best of Muskoka’s mahogany launches and more will fill the docks at Muskoka Wharf.

For 2018 a change is coming to the show, the same change is energizing the antique and classic boat world across North America. In boat houses, tied to docks and on trailers in driveways and new type of collector boat is growing in popularity, fiberglass. While mahogany and cedar craft still dominate, Classic Glass is bringing new people with a passion for antique and classic boats to the fraternity and to the Summer boat shows. In Muskoka some of the top Fibreglass Classics are the dominant ski boats such as J-Craft, Donzi, Panther and Sidewinder. Always a hit are the early glass boats from the 1950s that were heavily influenced by automotive design, fins and all.

A group of volunteers is working diligently to increase the presence of the Classic Glass boats at the show. Both in the water and on land so spread the word.

The show runs Saturday, July 7th, 2018 and is FREE to the public. For more information visit www.acbs.ca

Friday, July 6th will fun filled poker run. Always popular and a great event to invite some friends along to introduce them to classic boating. This year the Poker Run will take place in the afternoon, arriving back in Gravenhurst later in the afternoon allowing participants to join in on the Friday night Welcome BBQ and “Party by the Docks.”